Luise
Hinkenbrandt

»Mom's Dark Dragon« is a picture book about depression. It is intended to help families talk openly with their children about the disease, especially when a parent is affected. The first impulse of parents is to protect their children. Therefore, many children are unintentionally left out when a parent is mentally ill. Although this protection is well-intentioned, silence often makes the disease even more unsettling, especially for younger children. They sense very precisely when something changes and try to make sense of it themselves. Without explanations, fears, feelings of guilt, or a sense of responsibility for the affected parent can arise. This can cause long-term stress for children, so they often become ill as adults themselves. Open discussion of mental illness and health can counteract this cycle.